Washington high school students agree with City Council, 'pass' Tobacco 21 ordinance

Steve Stein of the Journal Star @SpartanSteve

Thursday

May 10, 2018 at 8:42 PMMay 10, 2018 at 9:28 PM

WASHINGTON — A handwritten sign on the front door of the Casey's General Store on Washington Road lets customers know they need to be 21 years old to purchase tobacco products.

That's one store's reaction to Washington City Council's passage April 2 of an ordinance that raised the age to purchase tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in the city from 18 to 21.

Twenty-two Washington Community High School students discussed the ordinance and then voted 19-3 in favor of "passing" it Thursday during a mock City Council meeting that was part of the city's annual Student Government Day.

Meeting in the same room in Five Points Washington as the real City Council, the nearly two dozen sophomores, juniors and seniors heard from Washington Police Chief Mike McCoy and Deputy Police Chief Jeff Stevens about the ordinance, asked questions and offered their opinions.

Stevens said the intent of the ordinance is to delay for as long as possible the start of an unhealthy activity: smoking or vaping.

The comment rang true with Maggie Strubhar, who served as mayor for the day.

"The period between 18 and 21 years old is critical to building lifelong healthy habits," she said.

Students pointed out that those younger than 21 who want to buy tobacco products or e-cigs can go outside Washington or online to get them, or someone can buy them for them.

"No law is perfect," Stevens said. "But studies have shown in communities where a similar ordinance to ours has been adopted, the use of tobacco products has decreased. And that's good because we're talking about an addictive, public health hazard."

Washington could lose some sales tax revenue from its new ordinance, but McCoy said "we prefer to have healthy residents."

Students suggested that police come to the high school and talk about the ordinance in health or science classes.

"We don't want to go into the schools every time an ordinance is passed, but this ordinance is certainly something your teachers can talk about," McCoy said.

Washington's passage of the ordinance is part of a national Tobacco 21 campaign produced and funded by the not-for-profit Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, which has a goal of raising the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 nationwide.

Peoria passed a Tobacco 21 ordinance shortly after Washington did and other area communities are considering passing similar ordinances.

Before the Tobacco 21 ordinance discussion, students heard from Washington Mayor Gary Manier, Stevens and Public Works Director Ed Andrews, who portrayed residents who came to the council with complaints.

Derrick Cornwell, who served as police chief for the day, told Manier succinctly "we'll take care of it" after Manier listed several concerns with neighbors including a dog that barks incessantly.

Stevens said he was having trouble maneuvering his truck around the portable crosswalk signs around town. He was told in no uncertain terms the signs were there for the public's safety and he needed to improve his driving.

Earlier, students heard from city department heads and representatives from other taxing bodies about their jobs, visited the Washington Fire Department's training tower and city facilities, and had lunch together at a local restaurant.

Student Government Day has been organized for several years by social studies teacher Chris Greiner.

Here are the other students who participated in the day Thursday and their positions: